Closure operator



June 15, 1965 Filed. Feb.

F. O. CARLSON CLOSURE OPERATOR FIG. 4

FIG. 3

FIG. I

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRED O. CARLSON ATTORNEY- 1 June 15, 1965 F. o. CARLSON 3,189,142

; CLOSURE OPERATOR Filed Feb. 19, 1963 I 2 Shefets-$heet 2 FIG. 7

FIG. 6

FIG. 5

INVENTOR. FRED O. CARLSON 1942;, 2. am, m.

ATTORNEY CLOSURE OPERATGR Fred 0. Carlson, R0. Box 837, Hesperia, Calif. Filed Feb. 19, 19563, Ser. No. 259,554 13 Claims. (CI. 189-47) This invention relates generally to emergency closures such as fire windows and doors, and is specifically related to an automatic operator for closures of the type which moveto a closed position along a horizontal path.

The primar'yobject of this invention is to provide a greatly simplified, troublefreeautomatic operating mechanism for moving emergency closures along a horizontal path to a closed position in response to predetermined, abnormal ambient conditions.

A specific object of this invention is to provide an automatic operator for horizontally shiftable fire windows which is operative at a preselected temperature to cause the window to move from an inoperative position at the side of an opening to a closed position across the open- A further object of .this invention is to provide a spring operator for horizontally shiftable closures wherein the operator is prevented from moving the closure across an opening by a fusible link with the link, spring operator and mounting elements therefor being connected in substantial force directing alignment with the normal path of travel of the window.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the following specification and appended claims, certain embodiments and details of construction of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of the invention appliedto a horizontally movable closure;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially sectioned, and partially exploded, front view of that portion of the invention appearing in the upper left hand corner of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the'line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, front view of a closure similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 1 to which a modified form of the invention is applied;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially exploded, front view of that portion of the invention appearing in the upper left hand corner of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectioned view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5. t

' Referring more'particularly to the drawings, a closure member 10, which may be a fire door or window, is mounted for horizontal travel, by means unclaimed, within a surrounding frame 11. The frame 11 includes a top rail 12, side members 13 and 14, and a bottom rail 32. 'To the right side thereof in FIGURE 1 the frame 11 defines an opening 34 covered by a screen 15. Details of the top and bottom rails of the frame 11 are illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 to show a suitable, relatively friction free mountingfor the closure and screen 15, but these frame details for-m no part of this invention.

Connected to the side frame member 14 is a bracket 16 to which is secured, by any suitable means, a coiled spring 17. The spring 17 extends at its other end through view taken along the line 33 a bracket 18 secured to the face of closure 10 and terminates in a headed coupling 20. Connected with side frame member 13 by mounting screw means 33 and positioned between the coupling 20 and said side member is a temperature responsive fusible link bracket 19. In FIGURE 1 the closure 10 is in an inoperative position to the left side of the opening 34 covered by screen with A United States Patent .0

Patented June .15, 1965 v 2 V I.

the spring 17 being greatly tensioned and lengthened, and being held in this condition by the fusiblelink means 19.

The operation of the unit of FIGURE 1 should be readily apparent. Upon the occurrence of an abnormal temperature rise, such as a fire, and where it is immediately desirable to cutoff all drafts in a building, the link 19 will melt and the tension of the spring 17 upon release will cause the closure member 10 to move to the right against frame member 14 covering the opening defined by screen 15.

To serve the dual function of protecting the spring 17 and link 19 from physical damage and to act as a guide for the spring, a shield member 21 is secured to the upper frame member 12, and substantially completely encloses the mechanism, as is particularly evident in FIGURE 3. The shield 21 is preferably perforated, at least in the area of the link 19 (exploded portion of FIGURE 2), in order that the link will be more quickly responsive to ambient conditions. e

In mounting the parts 13, 16, 18 and 19, his considered important that the spring and link alignment be close to or coincide with the horizontal line of travel of the door to aid in reducing cocking force moments which would otherwise be created.

While the resilient member 17 is preferably a'coiled spring, it is obvious that a piece of resilient rope, having sufiicient strength and elongating characteristics, would be suitable for the purpose intended.

The fusible link 19 is an element set to melt at a predetermined temperature and as such is a condition responsive device. This invention would also be applicable to moving the closure 10 within frame 11 in response to operation of a light responsive element or a moisture sensitive element in lieu of the link 19 under readily foreseeable conditions.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 a modified-form of the invention is illustrated. Connected between a mounting screw 22 on frame member 13 and a bracket 23 affixed adjacent to the front edge 24 of closure 10, shown in fragmentary form, is a coil spring 25. A bracket 26 supports a pulley 27 from the face of the top frame member 12 closely adjacent the side frame member 14. The spring 25 extends through bracket 23 and around the pulley 27 and terminates in the coupling 35 which is larger than the passage through the bracket. Interconnecting the coupling 35 with a mounting screw 28 on frame member 13 are a cable 29 and a fusible link 30. A shield 31, shown in detail in FIGURE 7, is provided to enclose the mechanism of FIGURE 4 and is preferably perforated (exploded portion of FIGURE 6) at least in the area of link 30.

Operation of the mechanisnrof FIGURE 4 should be readily apparent. The closure 10, having been moved to the inoperative position to the left side of the frame 11, finds the spring 25 greatly stretched and tensioned about pulley 27. The link 30 holds the closure 10 in this position, once achieved, and will release the closure to the force on the spring 25 upon the occurrence of a predetermined temperature condition, such as a fire in the vicinity, to block off the screened opening to the right side of the frame 11.

' 'An important advantage of the invention in either the preferred form of FIGURE 1 or the modified form of FIGURE 5 is that brackets 18 and 23 are provided with a spring encompassing passage as shown in FIGURE 3. This passage is of sufficient diameter to freely encompass the spring 17 or 25, as the case may be, but such diameter is less than the transverse measurements of either of the headed couplings 20 or 35. This construction makes it possible to manually move the closure along thespring to the closed position without disturbing the tensioned closure operator.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An automatic operator for moving a horizontally shiftable closure member across a framed opening from a first inoperative position adjacent one side of the opening to an operative position adjacent a second side of said opening, said automatic operator comprising a resilient member adapted to be considerably lengthened under tension, means to connect one end of the resilient member to the frame, means to connect the other end of the resilient member to the closure member so that the said resilient member is in substantial alignment with the normal direction of movement of the closure member, connection means secured to the said frame in alignment with the resilient member, a fusible link means, means to interconnect said link means with said connection means and the end of the spring at the connection of the spring with said closure to normally maintain the closure to said one side of said opening against the tension of said resilient member, said resilient member being of such a length and being under such a tension when the closure is at one side of the opening that, upon release of said fusible link, the closure member will be moved across the opening by the force of said resilient member as its tension is released.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said fusible link means, resilient member, and means to connect the ends of the resilient member to the frame and the closure member are enclosed by a guide and shield member secured to the frame.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said guide and shield member is perforated at least in the area of the fusible link means.

4. An automatic operator for moving a horizontally shiftable fire closure across a framed opening from an inoperative position adjacent a first side of said opening to an operative position adjacent a second side of said opening, said automatic operator comprising a coiled spring adapted to be considerably lengthened under tension, bracket means to connect one end of the spring to the frame at the other side of the opening, bracket means to connect the other end of the spring to the closure so that the said spring is in substantial alignment with the normal direction of movement of the closure, connection means secured to said first side of the frame in alignment with the resilient member, fusible link means, means to interconnect said link means with said connection means and the end of the spring at the connection of the spring with said closure to normally maintain the closure in the inoperative position against the tension of said spring, said spring being of such a length and being under such a tension when the closure is inthe inoperative position that, upon release of said fusible link, the closure will be moved across the opening by the force of said spring as its tension is released.

5. The invention according to claim 4 in which said bracket means, spring and fusible link means are enclosed by a guide and shield member secured to the frame.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said guide and shield member is perforated at least in the area of the fusible link.

7. An automatic operator for moving a horizontally shiftable closure across a framed opening from an inoperative position adjacent a first side of the opening to an operative position adjacent a second side of said opening, said automatic operator comprising a coiled spring adapted to be considerably lengthened under tension, bracket means to connect one end of the spring to the frame at the other side of the opening, bracket means to connect the other end of the spring to the closure so that the said spring is in substantial alignment with the normal direction of movement of the closure, connection means secured to the said one side of the frame in alignment with the resilient member, condition responsive means, means to interconnect said condition responsive means with said connection means and the end of the spring at the connection of the spring with said closure to normally maintain the closure in the inoperative position against the tension of the spring, said spring being of such a length and being under such a tension when the closure is in the inoperative position that, upon operation of said condition responsive means in response to a predetermined abnormal condition, the closure will be moved across the opening by the force of said spring as its tension is released.

8. An automatic operator for moving a horizontally shiftable closure across a framed opening from an inoperative position adjacent a first side of the opening to an operative position adjacent a second side of said opening, said automatic operator comprising a resilient member adapted to be considerably lengthened under tension, bracket means to connect one end of said resilient member to the first side of the frame, bracket means to connect the other end of the resilient member to the closure, pulley means connected to the frame at the other side of the opening in such a manner as to receive the resilient member for free running movement thereon and in substantial alignment with the normal direction of movement of the closure, connection means secured to said first side of the opening in alignment with the resilient member, condition responsive means, means to interconnect said condition responsive means with said connection means and the end of the resilient member at the connection of the spring with said closure to thereby normally maintain the closure in the inoperative position against the tension of the resilient member, said resilient member being of such a length and being under such a tension when the closure is in the inoperative position that, upon operation of said condition responsive means in response to a predetermined abnormal condition, the closure will be moved across the opening by the force of said resilient member as its tension is released.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said bracket means, resilient member, pulley means and condition responsive means are enclosed by a guide and shield member secured to the frame.

It). The invention according to claim 9 wherein said guide and shield member is perforated at least in the area of the condition responsive means.

11. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said condition responsive means is a fusible link.

12. An automatic operator for moving a horizontally shiftable fire closure across a framed opening from an inoperative position adjacent a first side of said opening to an operative position adjacent a second side of said opening, said automatic operator comprising a coiled spring adapted to be considerably lengthened under tension, bracket means to connect one end of the spring to the frame at the other side of the opening, a bracket having a passage therethrough and being connected to the closure, said spring extending freely through said bracket passage and terminating in connection with a headed coupling of greater transverse dimension than the bracket passage, and fusible link means connected between the frame on the first side of the opening and the headed coupling to normally maintain the closure in the inoperative position against the tension of said spring, said spring being of such a length and being under such a tension when the closure is in the inoperative position that,

upon release of said fusible link, the closure will be automatically moved across the opening by the spring, and said closure being manually shiftable through the medium of the passaged bracket to the closed position along said tensioned spring Without disturbing the automatic closure operator.

13. An automatic operator for moving a horizontally shiftable closure across a framed opening from an inoperative position in a first side of the opening, said automatic operator comprising a resilient member adapted to be considerably lengthened under tension, first bracket means to connect one end of said resilient member to the first side of the frame, a second bracket having a passage therethrough and being connected to the closure, pulley means connected to the frame at the other side of the opening in such a manner as to receive the resilient member for free running movement thereon, said resilient member extending from said first bracket means about said pulley means, through the passage of the second bracket and terminating in a headed coupling of greater transverse dimension than the bracket passage, and condition responsive means connected between the frame on the first side of the opening and the headed coupling to normally maintain the closure in the inoperative position against the tension of the resilient member, said resilient member being of such a length and being under such a tension When the closure is in the inoperative position that, upon operation of said condition responsive means in response to a predetermined abnormal condition, the closure will be automatically moved across the opening by the resilient member, and said closure being manually shiftable through the medium of the passaged bracket to the closed position along the tensioned spring without disturbing the automatic closure operator.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 386,042 7/88 Tillotson 189-47 590,724 9/97 Ives 189-47 777,300 12/04 Moody 189-47 1,095,370 5/14 Bardsley 189-48 X 1,872,350 8/32 Saurer 189-48 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN AUTOMATIC OPERATOR FOR MOVING A HORIZONTALLY SHIFTABLE CLOSURE MEMBER ACROSS A FRAMED OPENING FROM A FIRST INOPERATIVE POSITION ADJACENT ONE SIDE OF THE OPENING TO AN OPERATIVE POSITION ADJACENT A SECOND SIDE OF SAID OPENING, SAID AUTOMATIC OPERATOR COMPRISING A RESILIENT MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE CONSIDERABLY LENGTHENED UNDER TENSION, MEANS TO CONNECT ONE END OF THE RESILIENT MEMBER TO THE FRAME, MEANS TO CONNECT THE OTHER END OF THE RESILIENT MEMBER TO THE CLOSURE MEMBER SO THAT THE SAID RESILIENT MEMBER IS IN SUBSTAWNTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE NORMAL DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE CLOSURE MEMBER, CONNECTION MEANS SECURED TO THE SAID FRAME IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RESILIENT MEMBER, A FUSIBLE LINK MEANS, MEANS TO INTERCONNECT SAID LINK MEANS WITH SAID CONNECTION MEANS AND THE END OF THE SPRING AT THE CONNECTION OF THE SPRING WITH SAID CLOSURE TO NORMALLY MAINTAIN THE CLOSURE TO SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID OPENING AGAINST THE TENSION OF SAID RESILIENT MEMBER, SAID RESILIENT MEMBER BEING OF SUCH A LENGTH AND BEING UNDER SUCH A TENSION WHEN THE CLOSURE IS AT ONE SIDE OF THE OPENING THAT, UPON RELEASE OF SAID FUSIBLE LINK, THE CLOSURE MEMBER WILL BE MOVE ACROSS THE OPENING BY THE FORCE OF SAID RESILIENT MEMBER AS ITS TENSION IS RELEASED. 